Hair straightening and styling appliance

ABSTRACT

A handheld hair styling appliance  1  has an electric motor  19,  electric heat element  21,  and hair engaging elements  10, 11, 12  including a set of stationary extending parts with respective shearing edges  40, 41  and a set of movable extending parts having respective shearing edges  31, 32,  whereby when the moving parts move relative to and in proximity with the stationary parts, the respective shearing edges of each cooperate to compress strands of hair therebetween. The movable parts are spring-mounted to a carriage  29  and are urged into close proximity with the stationary parts, such that constant pressure is applied to hair strands positioned therebetween.

Related application-PCT/BE06/000107 Filed Sep. 29, 2006

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to hair straightening and styling appliances and, more particularly, to a hand held appliance having an an electrically driven fan and heat element, and hair engaging means for simultaneously styling or straightening hair while applying heated air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various known hair styling appliances exist in which hair is dried, heated, styled and straightened. Handheld appliances of this type typically include a heater and fan element, and a comb attachment. In these types of appliances, straightening is achieved only by combing. At least one know design comprises multiple flat surfaces that close against each other to compress hair strands between flat surfaces. This type of appliance spreads or distributes force over a relatively large surface area compared to the hair strands and it is less effective in delivering heated air to hair while the hair is compressed between the flat surfaces, preventing flowing, heated air from contacting the hair.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handheld hair styling appliance in which hair is dried, heated, styled and straightened while avoiding the shortcomings of known devices. Another object of the present invention is to provide a styling appliance that efficiently applies force over a relatively small surface area to maximize force and minimize effort to achieve optimum efficiency and convenience. These and other objects are achieved by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a handheld hair styling appliance having an electric motor, electric heat element, and hair engaging elements including a set of stationary extending parts with respective shearing edges, and a set of movable extending parts having respective shearing edges, whereby when the moving parts move relative to and in proximity with the stationary parts, the respective shearing edges of each cooperate to compress strands of hair therebetween. The movable parts are spring-mounted to a carriage and are urged into close proximity with the stationary parts, such that constant pressure is applied to hair strands positioned therebetween. The respective shearing edges for each of the parts are thin edges so that only a thin profile of hair is engaged at any given instant, while the appliance is drawn through the hair as heated air is applied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a first side view of an appliance according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a bottom view of an appliance according to the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a second side view of an appliance according to the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a top view of an appliance according to the present invention.

FIG. 1E is a distal end view of an appliance according to the present invention.

FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view of an appliance according to the present invention.

FIG. 1G is a proximal end view of an appliance according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an appliance according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a component of an appliance according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An appliance 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a handle portion 2, a head portion 3, a cord swivel 4, a cord extension mount 5, a proximal end 7, and a distal end 8. A metallic panel 8 and control switch 9 are provided. A plurality of central hair engaging elements 10 and a plurality of first side hair engaging elements 11 and a plurality of second side hair engaging elements 12 are mounted at the head portion 3. A tension control element 13 is mounted at the distal end 8. The body making up the handle portion 2 and the head portion 3 is preferably made of two molded halves, a first body half 14 and a second body half 15. A panel and switch assembly 16 is comprised of the metallic panel 8, the switch 9 and multiple components shown in FIG. 2. A filter cover 17 may be provided at the proximal end 6 which serves as an air intake, and is included in an end assembly 18. A fan and motor assembly 19 is housed internally in the handle portion 2. A motor and fan switching assembly 20 controls heat and air flow functions. A heater assembly 21 may comprise a standard heat element of a type generally known, and is also housed internally. Air driven by the fan assembly 20 moves air past the heater assembly 20 and heated air exits past the hair engaging elements 10, 11, 12. An electric plug 22 and cord 23 deliver power to the motor and heater assembly. The hair engaging elements 10, 11, 12 make up components of a hair engaging assembly 24 that is shown in more detail in FIG. 3.

The hair engaging assembly 24 comprises a central, dynamic hair engaging assembly 25 that includes a rod 26, a spring 27, a latch 28, and a base 29 to which each of the central hair engaging elements 31 are attached. Each hair engaging element 31 comprises a generally triangular shape with a pair of extending and converting sides. The sides join near the top apex 35 and form a curved, angular surface 32. The outside edges of the sides form, respectively, first and second shearing edges 33, 34, The edges 33, 34 may be generally right-angle edges or they may have a small bevel shape. The rod 26 is received in a hole 30 to mount the base 29 for linear movement as described below.

The central hair engaging elements 10 also include a static central hair engaging assembly 36 which comprises a base 37, a plurality of extending shearing elements 38, and a central opening 39 in each element 38. The central openings 38 are sized to receive therein each respective dynamic element 31 so that, as explained below, each dynamic element moves into and out of proximity from a respective stationary elements 38. The inner edges of the stationary shearing elements 38 form first and second shearing edges 40, 41 on each stationary element 38. An apex 42 is formed at the top. A gap 43 exists between each stationary element 38. An adjustment cam 43 having bayonet-type settings is manipulated by the tension control element 13 to preset tension in the spring 27.

The first and second side hair engaging elements 11, 12 comprise respective first and second bases 45, 46 that support each of the plurality of comb-teeth-like elements 11, 12. The bases 45, 46 are fixed for stationary positioning.

In operation, a user holds the appliance 1 by the handle portion 2. The user brushes the head portion 3 into the hair as if using a styling brush. Strands of hair will contact the curved, angular surfaces 32 when entering the gaps 43. As the hair is pulled against the angular surfaces 32, the spring 27 is overcome so that the dynamic elements 31 and their base 29 move together against the spring 27 in response. This causes the dynamic elements 31 to move away from an adjacent stationary element 38 just enough to allow the hair to slip closer toward the bases 37, 29, thereby pinching or compressing the hair between respective shearing edges 31, 32, 40, 41 as the spring 27 urges the dynamic elements 31 toward their starting point, thus clamping against the hair. By the term “shearing” as used here, it is not used in the sense of cutting or severing, but is instead used to describe shearing forces that are applied to the hair strands by two edges that pass closely adjacent each other so that an object (i.e., hair) spanning between the two edges is receiving the resultant shearing forces. By applying shearing forces as described here, and by engaging the hair only by edges rather than, for example, flat and relatively large surfaces, the hair strands are not shielded from air flow and the net force on the hair is concentrated on a much smaller surface area, thus applying more force than is attainable by a larger surface area with the same effort. One result is that the hair is more quickly and more effectively straightened with less effort or force applied by the user or the spring 27 in the appliance 1. Spring tension is controlled by turning the tension control element 13. The user may selectively apply heat and air flow using the control switch 9. As the appliance 1 is pulled through the user's hair in a brushing manner, the hair may be selectively styled or straightened. 

1. A hair styling appliance comprising: a handle portion; a head portion coaxially aligned with said handle portion on a first axis; a hair engaging assembly comprising a stationary hair engaging member extending along a second axis which said second axis extends at a generally right angle from said first axis, and a dynamic hair engaging member extending along said second axis; a stationary shearing edge defined on said stationary member; and a dynamic shearing edge defined on said dynamic member, said stationary shearing edge and said dynamic shearing edge being positioned adjacent to each other such that a strand of hair can be positioned and compressed between said respective shearing edges.
 2. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a spring for causing said dynamic shearing edge to be biased toward said stationary shearing edge.
 3. An appliance according to claim 2, wherein said spring resistance is selectively adjustable.
 4. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising an electric motor; an electric fan; and control switches for selectively controlling each of said motor and said fan.
 5. An appliance according to claim 2, further comprising an angled surface on said dynamic member adapted to initially contact a user's hair and to guide force applied to said dynamic member by said hair in a direction against said spring in order to bias and move said dynamic member in a direction opposed to said spring.
 6. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said stationary member has a central opening sized and shaped to receive said dynamic element at least partially therein, and said stationary shearing edge is defined by a surface along the inner edge of said central opening, and said dynamic shearing edge is defined by a surface along the outer edge of said dynamic element. 